Couldn’t agree more about those braided hoses—they’re sneaky. I’ve had a couple go on me over the years, and it’s never at a convenient time. I’m with you on swapping them out every few years, especially in older units. I don’t always shut off the water when I leave for a weekend, but if I’m gone longer, I do. It’s not paranoia if you’ve seen what water can do... warped cabinets, ruined floors, tenants calling in a panic. Regular checks and decent hardware are worth every penny.
Yeah, those hoses have a way of failing right when you least expect it—seen too many kitchen floods from a $15 part. I’m with you on swapping them out every few years, but I’ll admit, sometimes I push it a bit longer if they look solid and aren’t showing any rust at the fittings. Still, it’s always a gamble.
- Regular checks are huge. Quick glance under the sink while you’re grabbing the trash bag can save a world of pain.
- Stainless braided is better than the old rubber ones, but nothing lasts forever.
- Water shutoffs are one of those things most folks forget about until it’s too late... seen some gnarly leaks that could’ve been avoided with a simple turn of the valve.
Curious—has anyone had issues with those newer touchless faucets? I’ve installed a few and noticed some models are more finicky than others, especially when it comes to sensor placement or battery life. Wondering if folks have found brands that hold up better over time or if it’s just luck of the draw.
Touchless Taps and Other Faucet Surprises
Funny timing—just swapped out a Moen touchless in my kitchen last month. It was about five years old, and honestly, it started acting up after maybe year three. The sensor would randomly trigger if you walked by with a plate, or sometimes just... not work at all. I tried cleaning the sensor, changing batteries (which is a pain when it’s under the sink), even checked for loose wires. Ended up replacing the control box, which helped for a bit, but then it started leaking at the base. At that point, I figured it was more hassle than it was worth.
I’ve noticed battery life is all over the place depending on brand and how often you use the tap. The Moen ate through 6 AAs every 6-8 months, but my neighbor’s Delta seems to last longer—maybe a year? He swears by his, but he’s also way more diligent about wiping down the sensor area.
Sensor placement is definitely hit or miss. Some models are super sensitive and pick up movement from across the room, others you have to wave your hand right in front of them like you’re casting a spell. I’ve heard Kohler’s newer ones are better about this, but haven’t tried them myself.
Honestly, I’m starting to think there’s something to be said for good old-fashioned handles. Less to go wrong, and you don’t have to crawl under the sink every time the batteries die. But I get why folks like touchless—especially when your hands are covered in dough or chicken juice.
On hoses: totally agree about regular checks. I got burned once by an old rubber line that looked fine until it didn’t... came home to a mini swimming pool in the kitchen. Now I just swap them every few years whether they look bad or not. Stainless braided all the way.
Guess with plumbing stuff, “set it and forget it” never really works out for long.
Touchless Taps and Other Faucet Surprises
I’m in the middle of deciding between a touchless faucet and a regular one for my kitchen reno, so this is super helpful. The battery thing is what worries me most—crawling under the sink isn’t my idea of fun. Has anyone tried the models that plug into an outlet instead? Wondering if that’s any less hassle or just trading one problem for another.
The battery thing is what worries me most—crawling under the sink isn’t my idea of fun.
- Plug-in models are a bit of a mixed bag. Yes, you skip the battery swaps, but now you’ve got a cord to wrangle under your sink. If your outlet’s in a weird spot, it can get awkward fast.
- Some folks complain about cords getting tangled with cleaning supplies or garbage bins. Not a dealbreaker, but something to think about.
- On the plus side, you don’t have to remember when you last changed batteries... which is honestly a win in my book.
If you’ve got an outlet handy and don’t mind a little extra cord clutter, plug-in might be less hassle overall. Just don’t trip over it when you’re reaching for the dish soap.